Question 1

What does philosophy have in common with folk wisdom? Both

Accepted Answer

Both philosophy and folk wisdom often contain contradictions, making it challenging to determine which explanation is correct, as they both explore complex human experiences and ideas.

Question 2

Why is it unwise to rely on folk wisdom in explaining human social behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Folk wisdom is often based on oversimplified or incorrect assumptions and is not always applicable to complex social behaviors that require careful empirical analysis.

Question 3

Professor Hume has spent the last 10 years studying the interpersonal factors that cause individuals to be aggressive.She is most likely to be

Accepted Answer

The study of interpersonal factors and aggression is a common area of research in social psychology, making choice (E) the best option. Sociology may also study these topics, but typically focuses more on larger societal patterns and structures rather than individual behavior. Philosophy, anthropology, and economics are unlikely to specifically focus on this topic in the same way that social psychology does.

Question 4

The social science that focuses on the effect of broad social factors like social class is

Accepted Answer

Sociology specifically focuses on studying society and social behavior, including the impact of social structures and social dynamics on individuals and groups. Social psychology also studies social factors, but it tends to be more focused on individual-level processes like attitudes, beliefs, and interpersonal relationships. Anthropology explores all aspects of human culture, while philosophy focuses more on reasoning and critical thinking. Economics primarily focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, but can also examine social factors like income inequality.

Question 5

Which of the following questions is most likely to be asked by a social psychologist?

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists are primarily interested in how individuals behave and interact in social situations. Therefore, a question about what situations cause people to behave rudely aligns with the field of social psychology. The other options may be studied by other branches of psychology, such as behavioral genetics or clinical psychology.

Question 6

Why is a scientific approach preferable to reliance on folk wisdom and common sense?

Accepted Answer

Folk wisdom and common sense often contain contradictory statements, making them unreliable for understanding complex phenomena systematically, unlike the scientific approach which relies on empirical evidence and systematic investigation.

Question 7

Your roommate left her homework on the couch,where you plan to watch TV.When you move her work,you notice that she is reading an article describing an experiment that investigated the cues people give when they really like someone.You conclude that your roommate is taking a class in

Accepted Answer

The experiment described in the article is related to understanding human behavior in the context of liking someone, which falls under the domain of social psychology. Thus, it is safe to assume that your roommate is taking a class in social psychology.

Question 8

Which of the following social phenomena would be of interest to both social psychologists and sociologists?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following social phenomena would...

Question 9

According to the text,which of the following statements is true regarding the difference between the way social psychologists approach the study of human behaviour and the approach others take?

Accepted Answer

The text states that social psychologists are less concerned with individual differences than with the influence of social situations on behaviour, which distinguishes them from personality psychologists. Option A is incorrect because social psychologists do study people's inner thoughts and feelings, along with their observable behaviours. Option B and E are incorrect because there is no comparison made between social psychologists and philosophers or clinical psychologists in terms of their approach to studying human behaviour. Option C is partially true but incomplete, as social psychologists seek to not only predict but also explain and understand human behaviour.

Question 10

Social psychologists differ from sociologists in that social psychologists

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists focus on understanding individual behavior and the psychological processes that underpin it, while sociologists focus on studying groups and societal structures.

Question 11

Consider the following pieces of folk wisdom: "Out of sight,out of mind" versus "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." These statements are an example of the problem that folk wisdom is often

Accepted Answer

These statements exemplify how folk wisdom can contain contradictory assumptions, as both suggest opposing outcomes from the same situation (absence), highlighting the inconsistency in folk wisdom.

Question 12

A social psychologist is perplexed.Is it true that birds of a feather flock together,or do opposites attract? Confronted with these two contradictory pieces of folk wisdom,what is this social psychologist most likely to do?

Accepted Answer

The social psychologist would most likely conduct an experiment to investigate the different situations in which each bit of common sense holds true. This is the best way to gather empirical evidence and test the validity of these folk wisdom statements.

Question 13

When Prya and Mohammed returned home after a night on the town,they found their baby crying because her diaper needed to be changed.The babysitter was sitting in front of the television,ignoring the baby's crying.Mohammed and Prya decided that the babysitter was callous and uncaring,and they swore that they would never hire her again.Mohammed and Prya's interpretation of the babysitter's actions was based on

Accepted Answer

The answer of When Prya and Mohammed returned home after...

Question 14

When social psychologists want to test their hunches about why people help others,they are most likely to

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists conduct experiments to test their hunches about why people help others. These experiments are designed to systematically manipulate variables and observe the effects on helping behavior, allowing for a more accurate understanding of the underlying factors that influence prosocial behavior.

Question 15

Consider the following research question: "Have no-fault divorce laws increased the rate of divorce in the United States?" This question would most likely be asked by

Accepted Answer

This research question is focused on social phenomena and trends, specifically the impact of no-fault divorce laws on divorce rates in the United States. Therefore, it is most likely to be asked by a sociologist who studies social populations and how they interact with laws and social structures. Social psychologists and personality psychologists may also study divorce as it relates to individuals and their behaviors, but the scope of this question goes beyond the individual level. A lawyer may be interested in the legal implications of no-fault divorce laws but may not have the same research focus as a sociologist. A philosopher may explore the ethics and morality of divorce, but likely would not conduct empirical research on divorce rates.

Question 16

One of the tasks of the social psychologist is to

Accepted Answer

Making educated guesses about specific situations is a task of social psychologists as they use scientific methods to study and understand human behavior in social contexts. Unlike folk wisdom, social psychology relies on empirically tested theories and research findings to explain and predict social behavior. Seeking agreement with one another is important in any scientific discipline but it is not the specific task of social psychologists. Ignoring human consciousness would be a severe limitation to social psychology as it focuses on how people think, feel, and behave in social situations. Integrating folk wisdom into modern psychology is a possibility but it would require testing its validity through scientific research.

Question 17

Social psychologists differ from journalists in that social psychologists

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists rely on empirical arguments based on scientific research and data, while journalists may rely on sources, anecdotes, and personal opinions. This differentiates their approach to analyzing social phenomena.

Question 18

Social psychologists are most like ________ when they test their hunches about social behaviour.

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists are most like physicists because they use the scientific method to test hypotheses and theories about social behavior, similar to how physicists test theories about physical phenomena.

Question 19

Consider the following research question: "How has new computer technology changed the Canadian educational system?" This question is most likely to be asked by

Accepted Answer

The question is asking about the impact of a specific technological advancement on a particular system, which is a topic of interest to sociologists who study social change and its effects on society. Anthropologists typically focus on the study of cultures across different societies and time periods, while personality psychologists examine individual differences in behavior and thought. Philosophers might explore broader ethical or moral implications of technology, while social psychologists investigate how individuals are influenced by social factors, such as norms or group pressures.

Question 20

Jamal was confused by his sister's relationship with her boyfriend.They just didn't seem to have anything in common."Oh well," Jamal decided,"I guess opposites really do attract." Jamal's explanation is an example of

Accepted Answer

"Opposites attract" is a common saying or folk wisdom that suggests that people who are very different from each other can be attracted to one another, despite their differences. It is not necessarily based on scientific evidence or social psychology research, but rather a commonly held belief.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Social Psychology